Maine authorities are investigating after 250 unmarked absentee ballots were reportedly found in a woman’s Amazon package delivery last week. The ballots were discovered in Newburgh on the same day that the town of Ellsworth, located about 40 miles away, reported 250 absentee ballots missing from a shipment.
Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows announced that the secretary of state’s law enforcement division is leading the investigation in partnership with the FBI, the U.S. Postal Service, and state agencies. The woman reported that the Amazon package appeared to have been tampered with, as it was already opened and resealed when it arrived at her doorstep.
Bellows suggested there may have been deliberate attempts to disrupt ballot distribution, stating: “This year, it seems that there may have been attempts to interrupt the distribution of ballots and ballot materials”. She emphasized that the incident would not affect the security of Maine’s November 4 election, which began early in-person voting on October 6.
Amazon has denied responsibility for the mishandling, stating that its preliminary findings indicate the package “was tampered with outside of our fulfillment and delivery network, and not by an Amazon employee or partner”. The company is cooperating with investigators.
Political Significance
The incident has drawn attention from Maine Republicans, who called on the FBI and U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi to investigate. The timing is notable as Maine’s November 4 election includes a Republican-backed ballot initiative that would impose photo ID requirements for voting and restrict drop box usage.
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